Garage door mechanism



May 2, 1961 s. T. BRADY GARAGE DOOR MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 21, 1958 May 2, 1961- s. T. BRADY GARAGE DOOR MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1958 y 2, 1961 s. T. BRADY 2,982,541

GARAGE DOOR MECHANISM Filed Jan. 21, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 GARAGE DOOR MECHANISM Sheldon T. Brady, North Hollywood, Calif., assignor to Packard-Bell Electronics Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Jan. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 710,240

13 Claims. (Cl. 268-74) This invention relates to power actuated doors and, more particularly, relates to a power actuated door for a garage or the like which swings between a forward upright position and a rearward, approximately horizontal overhead open position. The power means usually comprises an overhead motor and an elongated overhead operating member which is pivotally connected to the door near the upper edge of the door for longitudinal reciprocation by the motor to open and close the door.

The invention is directed to the problem of adapting such a door for manual operation independently of the power means when such operation is either desirable or necessary. Occasions arise when it is more convenient to open the door manually than to operate a remote control for the power means and, of course, there is always the possibility of failure of the power means or failure of its operative connections with the door.

The invention solves this problem by employing a manually releasable means for pivotally connecting the door to the longitudinally reciprocative operating member so that the door may be quickly disconnected from the power means for independent movement. If the door is in its normal closed position, it may be manually disconnected to swing open inwardly with the overhead operating member remaining in its forward door-closing position.

Broadly described, the means for pivotally connecting the door to the overhead operating member comprises a pivot means mounted on the forward end of the operating member, a bracket mounted on the upper end of the door to abut the pivot means and manually releasable latch means on the door to lock' the pivot means in pivotal abutment against the bracket. In the preferred practice of the invention, the bracket is recessed to receive the pivot means and thereleasable latch means blocks withdrawal of the pivot means from the bracket recess.

The invention is further directed to certain problems that arise in the design and functioning of this combination of pivot means, recessed bracket and releasable latch means.

One of these further problems is to provide a bracket and cooperating arrangement that will engage and confine the pivot means in a positive manner to function normally in the same reliable manner as a permanent pivot connection. Another of the problems is to simplify the task of manually operating the door. It is contemplated that simple manual operation will serve both to release the latch means and to impart opening force to the door and it is further contemplated that the door may be returned to its closed position with automatic re-engagement of the pivot means by the bracket and cooperating latch means.

Another problem is to maintain alignment of the overhead operating member with the bracket on the door when the door is released to be opened manually. Still another problem is to control the level of the pivot means to cause the pivot means to register with the recess of 2,982,541 Patented May 2, 1961 the bracket as the door is returned manually to its normal closed position.

The problem of positively engaging the pivot member on the forward end of the overhead operating member is met by recessing the bracket for hook engagement with the pivot means and by employing a pivoted latch means that seats the pivot means in such manner that the pivo means itself blocks release action.

With reference to the problems of simplifying the release of the door from the power actuated operating member, of simplifying the operation of the door independently of the power actuated operating means and of simplifying the restoration of the connection with the power actuated means, the hook recess of the bracket opens in the forward direction and the cooperating latch means retracts in the rearward direction to release the pivot means. Suitable spring means urges the latch means toward its forward effective position.

One advantage of this arrangement is that means for manually opening the door from the inside may be connected directly to the latch means. Thus a simplerrearward pull on such a manual means serves both to unlatch the demand to initiate opening movement of the door. A second advantage is that the door is latched to the power actuated operating means automatically when the door is swung back to its closed position. Thus as the door approaches its closed position, the spring-pressed latch means is retracted by being carried against the pivot means and then the latch means is spring-actuated to return its normal position to lock the pivot means in the bracket recess. a

Maintenance of alignment between the idle overhead operating means and the bracket on the door as the door is returned to its closed position is accomplished by using a bracket of forked configuration to engage the opposite longitudinal sides of the operating member in a sliding manner. In the preferred practice of the invention the operating member is a channel member that slidingly fits between a pair of guide wings of the bracket. Finally control of the level of the pivot member relative to the engagement recess of the bracketis accomplished by cam action between the bracket and the power actuated operating means that carries the pivot means.

A further important feature of the invention is that the bracket is mounted on the upper edge of the door to extend upward beyond the door edge and the bracket I journals the pivot means of the power actuated operating member at a point near the plane of the forward surface of the door, not near the plane of the rearward door surface. The significance of this location for the pivot point is that it makes it possible to open the door to the maximum without the door reaching an angle relative to the power actuated operating means that is unfavorable for closing action of thedoor in response to forward thrust of the operating member.

The various features and advantages of the invention may be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, which are to be regarded illustrative:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the upper portion of a garage door together with a remotely controlled power actuated mechanism for opening and closing the door;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing how the bracket and the cooperating releasable latch means at the top of the door releasably engages a pivot means at the forward end of the door-operating member; 7 V a,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the door pulled to its maximum open position bythe power actuated mechanism;

as merely 3 Figure 4 is a transverse section taken as indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 3 showing how a pinion of the power actuated mechanismengages a rack portion of the 'door operating member;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 5 showing the latch means retracted for release of the pivot means;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 5 showing the upper edge of the door at an early stage in its rearward and upward movement from its closed posi tion;

Figure 8 is a similar side elevational view at a later stage in the opening movement of the door; and

Figure 9 is a view in side elevation showing the released door returning to its closed position for automatic latching engagement with the pivot means.

General arrangement Figure 1 shows a typical garage door 10 which is normally operated by a power actuated push-pull operating member 12 to swing rearward and upward from the normal vertical closed position in Figure 1 to an overhead substantially horizontal position shown in Figure 3. For this purpose, the door is mounted in a well known manner to swing about a horizontal axis.

The remotely controlled power actuated means for operating the door is mounted at an overhead position. In the construction shown, the operating member 12 is a channel member having upstanding side walls 14 and laterally extending longitudinal flanges 15 at the top edges of the side walls. The bottom web of the channelshaped operating member 12 is transversely slotted as best shown in Figure 2 to form a series of rack teeth 16 for engagement with a driving pinion 18 that is shown in Figures 3 and 4.

The power means for the door actuating mechanism comprises a motor 20 mounted in a rectangular support frame 22. The shaft of the motor 20 carries a worm 24 in engagement with a worm gear 25 that is mounted on a transverse shaft 26. The shaft 26 is journaled in the opposite sides of the support frame 22 and carries the driving pinion 18. As shown in Figure 4, the driving pinion 18 has circumferential flanges 28 at its opposite ends for guiding engagement with the operating member 12 and the driving pinion is formed with extensive teeth 30 that mesh with the rack teeth 16.

For connecting the operating member 12 to the upper end of the door 10 in a pivotal manner, the forward end of the operating member carries a pivot means in the form of a transverse pivot member or pin 32, the opposite ends of which serve as pivot trunnions. The pivot pin 32 is releasably engaged by a bracket 34 on the top edge of the door and is releasably locked in engagement with the bracket by means of a pair of normally closed spring-pressed latch fingers 35. In the preferred practice of the invention, a short loop of chain 36 (Figures 1, 2 and 5) is connected at its opposite ends to the pair of latch fingers 35, the loop of chain hanging on the inner face of the door.

It is to be noted that by virtue of the worm 24 and the worm gear 25, the motor 20 is operatively connected to the operating member 12 in what may be termed an irreversible manner. In other words, no amount of rearward longitudinal force applied to the operating member 12 will cause the worm gear 25 to rotate the worm 24. Thus, the irreversible driving connection between the motor and the operating member 12 in effect locks the door in the closed position when the motor is idle.

With the door in its normally closed position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5, an operator standing on the inner side of the door may open the door by reaching up and pulling the chain loop 36 downwardly and rearwardly. The initial pull on the chain loop 36 retracts the latch 4 fingers 35 to their release positions as shown in Figure 6 and continued pull on the chain loop starts the backward swing of the door. Immediately the forward end of the operating member 12 and the pivot pin 32 carried thereby drop slightly as indicated by the arrow 38 in Figure 6.

With continued rearward opening of the door 10, the bracket 34 retracts rearward from the pivot pin 32, successive stages early in the opening movement of the door being shown in Figures 7 and 8. In Figure 8 the latch fingers 35 are shown as swung forward by associated spring means since it is assumed that the operator releases the chain loop 36 at an early stage and grasps a door handle 40 shown in Figure 1 to complete the opening movement of the door. The operator may, however, use the chain loop 36 exclusively without touching the door handle 40.

When the door 10 is subsequently returned manually to its normally closed upright position, the bracket 34 at the top of the door returns through the described stages shown in Figures 8 and 7. Just before the door reaches its fully closed position, the operating member 12 is in the position shown in Figure 9 with the pivot pin 32 in the path of the two latch fingers 35. With the final closing movement of the door, the two latch fingers 35 are retrained by their movement against the pivot pin 32 to permit the pivot pin to return to its normal position in the bracket, whereupon the latch fingers are restored by spring pressure to their normal positions for locking the pivot pin in the bracket as shown in Figures 2 and 5. Thus the door is automatically restored to its pivotal connection with the operating member 12 when the door is manually returned to its normal closed position.

Structural details As best shown in Figure 2, the bracket 34 may be made of sheet metal, the bracket having a base web 42 that is anchored to the upper edge of the door by suitable screws 44 (Figure 5) and having a forward flange 45 that extends over the front face of the door. The forward flange 45 is anchored by a suitable bolt 46 that extends through the door. The bracket 34 has a pair of upwardly extending side walls or wings 48 that have forwardly and upwardly inclined upper cam edges 50 for cooperation with the power actuated operating member 12. The side walls 48 of the bracket form a pair of forwardly and downwardly curved hooks 52, the hooks being formed by corresponding recesses 54. Each recess 54 has a forwardly facing upright edge 55 (Figure 7) and a forwardly extending bottom edge 56. Below the recesses 54 the two side walls 48 of the bracket form laterally outwardly turned ears 58 which funtcion as stops for the corresponding latch fingers 35.

The two latch fingers 35 are journaled on the opposite ends of a cross pin 60 and are retained thereon at each end by suitable means including a snap ring 62. Each of the latch fingers 35 is urged towards its forward normal position by a corresponding torsion spring 64. One end of each spring 64 is anchored in a bore 65 in the corresponding latch finger and the other end of the spring is anchored in similar manner in the corresponding side wall 48 of the bracket.

Each of the latch fingers 35 has an upper forward latching edge of S-shaped curvature for cooperation with the two recesses 54 of the bracket 34. The latch fingers 35 normally lock the pivot pin 32 in the bracket recesses '54 in a positive manner because the cross pin 60 seats on a point 66 of each latch finger (Figure 5) that is of lesser radial distance from the pivot axis of the latch finger than a forward shoulder 68 of the latch finger and because the hooks 52 of the bracket overhang the latching edges of the latch fingers to block escape of the pivot pin when the latch fingers are in their normal forward positions.

The two side walls 14 of the operating member 12 are slidingly' engaged by the wings or side walls 48 of the bracket 32 to keep the operating member in alignment with the bracket whenever the door is moved manually independently of the operating members.

The two side flanges 15 of the power actuated operating member 12 cooperate with the inclined cam edges 50 of the bracket 34 and as best shown in Figure 2 these side flanges terminate short of the forward end of the operating member to present forward edges 70 that also cooperate with the inclined cam edges of the bracket. In this particular embodiment of the invention, the pivot pin 32 is mounted on the forward end of the power actuated operating member 12 by means of a heavy metal strap 72 which may be regarded as portion or extension of the operating member. The metal strap 72 is attached to the under side of the power actuated operating member 12 by rivets 74 (Figure 5) and iscylindrically curled at its forward end, as indicated at 75 in Figure 7, to embrace a rubber-like sleeve 76 in which the pivot pin 32 is mounted. The rubber-like sleeve 76 is advantageous for absorbing shock and is conducive to quiet operation.

The preferred practice of the invention further provides means for manually actuating the loop of chain 36 from the outer face of the door 10. For this purpose, as shown in Figure 1, a handle 80 on the outer face of the door is mounted on a shaft 82 that extends through the door, the

shaft being journaled in a small housing 84 on the rear face of the door. The shaft 82 carries an arm 85 that is connected by a chain 86 to the chain loop 36. Thus manual rotation of the handle 80 pulls downward on the chain loop to unlatch the door. Associated with the hande 80 is a lock 88 which normally immobilizes the handle to prevent unauthorized entry, the lock being 0perable by a key 89.

The manner in which the invention serves its purpose may be readily understood from the foregoing description. It is apparent that since the latch fingers 35 lock the pivot pin 32 in the recesses 54 of the bracket 34 in a positive manner, the power actuated operating member is normally pivotally connected to the door 10 in a dependable manner, the positive engagement with the pivot pin being just as effective at the open position of the door shown in Figure 3 as at the closed position of the door shown in Figures 1 and 5. The door-operating forces generated by the power means cannot swing the latch means open because the overhanging hook portions of the bracket block the path that the pivot pin 32 must follow to permit such opening movement.

The door at its open position should be at an angle relative to the power actuated operating member 12 that is favorable for subsequent closing of the door by longitudinal thrust on the part of the operating member. In other words, the arc indicated by the curved arrow 90 in Figure 3 should be greater than 180 degrees, the are being the angle between the plane of the door at its fully open position and the longitudinal direction of the power actuated operating member 12. It may be readily appreciated from a consideration of Figure 3 that the position of the pivot pin 32 nearer to the plane of the front face 92 of the door than to the plane of the rear face 93 of the door makes it possible to swing the door to a wider open position than would otherwise. be possible. Thus if the pivot pin 32 were shifted to a point near the back edge of the bracket 34, i.e. nearer the rear face 83 of the door, it would not be possible to swing the door as far rearward as the open position shown in Figure 3 without reducing the arc 99 to less than 180 degrees.

It is a simple matter to open the door manually from the inside independently of the power means by pulling downward or to unlock the handle 80 for manipulation to open the door from the outside.

The manner in which the longitudinal side flanges and the forward edges 70 thereof cooperative with the cam edges 50 of the bracket 34 is an important feature of the invention and especially .in the return movement of the door which terminates with the pivot pin 32 automatically locked in the recess 54 of the bracket.

'32 at the required level at the entrance to the bracket recess 54 as shown in Figure 9. I At this position of the pivot pin 32 shown in Figure 9, the final closing movement of the door 10 moves the latch fingers 35 against the pivot pin 32 to force the latch fingers 35 backward against the opposition of the torsion springs 64 to permit the pivot pin to enter the bracket recesses 54. When the pivot pin 32 passes over'th'e shoulders 68 of the two latch fingers 35, the latch fingers snap forward and cam the pivot pin 32 upward into its. normal locked engagement with the hooks 52 of the bracket 34. This snap action by the latch fingers '35 is freely permitted by the fact, as heretofore explained, that the points 66 of the latch fingers are of lesser radial dimension than the shoulders 68.

My description in specific detail of the presently preferred practice of the invention will suggest various changes, substitutions and other departures from my disclosure within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a door assembly wherein a door is mounted to swing from a forward closed position to a rearward open position, the combination of: power means; means including a forwardly extending elongated operating member operatively connected to the power means for actuation of the operating member by the power means; and

means releasably connecting the door to the operating member to obtain an opening and closing of the door by the operating member-and to obtain the manual operation of the door independently of the operating member and to obtain an operative connection between the operating member and the door upon each manual movement ofthe door to the closed position, said releasably connecting means including pivot means mounted on the forward end of the operating member and provided with an axis extending transversely of the operating member, pivotable operatively connected to the pivotable means for biasing.

the pivotable means in the position for engaging the pivot means.

2. In a door assembly wherein a door is mounted to 2 swing between a forward closed position and a rearward, open position, the combination of: power means, means including a forwardly extending elongated operating member having an irreversible operative connection to said power means for actuation of the operating memberby V the power means, first connecting means on the operat- 'ing member, and second connecting means disposed on the door in engaged relationship with the first connecting means in the closed position of the door for connecting the 'door to the operating member, manually operable means operatively connected to the second connecting means to provide for a manual release of the second connecting means from the first connecting means to free the door for manual operation of the door independently of .A t e 7 door in its return movement swings forward from the 7 the operating member, and "the power means and means biasing the second connecting means to a position for producing a re-engagement of the first and second connecting means upon a manual movement of the door to the closed position.

3. "In a door assembly wherein a door is mounted to swing between a forward closed position and a rearward open position, the combination of: power means, means including an elongated operating member operatively connected to the power means for movement between a forward position corresponding to the closed position of the door and a rearward position corresponding to the open position of the door, a pivot pin connected to the operating member at the forward end of the operating member, a'first pivotable member connected to the door and constructed to engage the pivot pin for movement of the door with the elongated operating member between the open and closed positions, and manually operable means operably connected to the first pivotable member to obtain a disengagement of the first pivotable member from the pivot pin in the closed position of the door for manual movement of the door independently of the operating member, a second pivotable member connected to the door and constructed to engage the pivot pin upon a manual movement of the door to the closed position and to cooperate with the first pivotable member in maintaining an engagement with the pivot pin for movement of the door with the operating member, and means operatively connected to the first pivotable member for biasing the first pivotable member to the position for engaging the pivot pin.

4. In a door assembly wherein a door is mounted to swing between a forward closed position and a rearward open position, the combination of: an elongated operating member movable between a forward position corresponding to the closed position of the door and a rearward position corresponding to the open position of the door, power means operatively connected to the operating member to obtain a movement of the operating member between the forward and rearward positions, first pivot means disposed on the operating member at the forward end of the operating member, second pivot means disposed on the door and constructed to engage the first pivot means for a movement of the door by the operating member and to became engaged with the first pivot means upon a manual movement of the door to the closed position for a subsequent movement of the door by the operating member, and manually operable means operatively connected to the second pivot means to obtain a disengagement of the second pivot means from the first pivot means in the closed position of the door for a movement of the door independently of the operating member.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which the first pivot means includes a pivot pin and in which the second pivot means includes a member pivotable to a first position to engage the pivot pin and pivotable to a second position displaced from the first position to release the pivot means from the pivot pin for a manual movement of the door independently of the operating member and in which means are operatively coupled to the second pivot means for biasing the second pivot means to the position for engaging the first pivot means.

6. In a door assembly wherein a door is mounted to swing between a forward closed position and a rearward open position, the combination of: power means, a forwardly extending elongated operating member operatively coupled to the power means for movement upon an energizing of the power means and movable forwardly to a limit position corresponding to the closed position of the door and movable rearwardly from the limit position, a pivot pin disposed on the operating member at the forward end of the operating member and provided with an axis extending transversely of the operating member, first means supported on the door and provided with a hookshaped'portion disposed to hook over the pivot pin upon amovement of the'door to the closed position and to provide a particular positioning of the operating member relativeto the door, and second means supported on the doorand pivotable to a first position in engaged relationship with the pivot pin upon a movement of the door to a closed position and upon a hooking of the first means over the pivot pin to retain the pivot pin within the hook shaped portion of the first means and pivotable to a second position out of engaged relationship with the pivot pin to provide for a movement of the first means from the pivot pin upon a manual operation of the door from the closed position to the open position.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 in which the second means are manually pivotable from the first position to the second position to obtain a manual opening of the door and in which the second means are biased for disposition in the first position.

8. In a door assembly wherein a door is mounted to swing between a forward closed position and a rearward open position, the combination of: power means, an elongated operating member horizontally disposed and swingably connected at its inner end to said power means for longitudinal movement between first and second positions respectively corresponding to the opening and closing of the door, pivot means fixedly mounted on the forward end of the operating member and provided with an axis extending transversely across the operating member, a bracket member on the door for pivotal abutment against the pivot means, the bracket member being provided with a hook-shaped portion at its forward end to engage the pivot means for an operative coupling between the operating member and the door and to become disengaged from the pivot means upon a manual operation of the door from the closed position to the open position, and a latch member biased to a first position against the pivot means in the closed position of the door and relative to the hook-shaped portion of the bracket member to maintain the pivot means within the hook-shaped portion of the bracket member, the latch member being manually pivotable to a second position displaced from the first position to obtain a manual operation of the door and a disengagement of the bracket member from the pivot 9. The combination set forth in claim 8 in which the elongated operating member and the bracket member are provided with respective camming surfaces for mutual sliding contact to guide the pivot means by cam action into the hook-shaped portion of the bracket member.

10. In a door assembly wherein a door is mounted to swing between a forward closed position and a rearward open position, the combination of: power means, a forwardly extending elongated operating member operatively coupled to the power means for movement upon an energizing of the power means and movable forwardly to a limit position corresponding to the closed position of the door and movable rearwardly from the limit position, a pivot pin disposed on the operating member at the for ward end of the operating member and provided with an axis extending transversely of the operating member, first means supported on the door and provided with a particular portion disposed to engage the pivot pin upon a movement of the door to the closed position and to provide a particular positioning of the operating member relative to the door, and second means supported on the door and pivotable to a first position in engaged relationship with the pivot pin upon a movement of the door to a closed position and upon an engaging of the first means with the pivot pin to obtain a retention of the pivot pin by the particular portion of the first means and pivotable to a second position out of engaged relationship with the pivot pin to provide for a movement of the first means from the pivot pin upon a manual operation of the door from the closed position to the open position, and manually operable means operatively connected to the second means to obtain a pivotal movement of the second means to the second position.

11. The combination set forth in claim 10 in which the second means are manually pivotable from the first position to the second position to obtain a manual opening of the door and in which the second means are biased for disposition in the first position.

12. In a door assembly wherein a door is mounted to swing between a forward closed position and a rearward open position, the combination of: power means, an elongated operating member horizontally disposed and swingably connected at its inner end to said power means for longitudinal movement between first and second positions respectively corresponding to the opening and closing of the door, pivot means fixedly mounted on the forward end of the operating member and provided with an axis extending transversely across the operating member, a bracket member on the door for pivotal abutment against the pivot means, the bracket member being provided with a particular portion at its forward end to engage the pivot means for an operative coupling between the operating member and the door and to become disengaged from the pivot means upon a manual operation of the door from the closed position to the open position, and a latch memare provided with respective camming surfaces for mutual i sliding contact to guide the pivot means by cam action into engagement with the particular portion of the bracket member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 929,304 Hellwig July 27, 1909 1,916,652 Beeman et al July 4, 1933 2,416,459 Slopa Feb. 25, 1947 2,430,729 Negri Nov. 11, 1947 2,751,220 Richmond June 19, 1956 2,805,059

Green Sept. 3, 1957 

